Shekhar Kapur’s science-fiction fantasy “Mr India (1987)” has a chart-busting soundtrack by Laxmikant-Pyarelal. One of the most popular songs from the film about a man who gets a device to turn himself invisible is “Hawa Hawaai,” performed by the inimitable Sridevi.
She goofs around (while never missing a step) as a journalist pretending to be an exotic dancer from Hawaii. Her character Seema imitates Charlie Chaplin elsewhere in the film, and she channels her inner Mother Teresa in another scene involving hungry children.
Sridevi, who died last year left behind a bountiful legacy of dance performances. Several actresses have paid tribute to her terpsichorean skills, her ability to be both sensuous and virginal, passionate and professional. Vidya Balan doffed her hat to Hawa Hawaai in “Tumhari Sulu (2017),” but the end result doubly proved the power of the original song.
Kaate Nahin Kat Te has been referenced in more interesting ways. In Sachin Kundalkar’s cult film “Aiyyaa (2012),” Rani Mukerji plays Meenakshi, whose head is stuffed with Hindi film songs and fantasies about The One.
In “Gunday,” childhood friends Bala (Kapoor) and Bikram (Singh) are in love with nightclub performer Nandita (Priyanka Chopra). She has told them that she will indicate her choice during a show of Mr India at a single-screen cinema. Why? There are bigger questions to ask about Gunday, and this isn’t the one.
Kaate Nahin Kat Te was also sampled in the nightclub song O Janiya from “Force 2 (2016).”
This article was first published on Scroll.in, and is being republished under special arrangements.